AI Analysis Reveals Hidden Secrets of Raphael Masterpiece

Advanced AI technology has revealed secrets supporting a long-held suspicions about the painting

AI Analysis Reveals Hidden Secrets of Raphael Masterpiece
AI

A groundbreaking artificial intelligence analysis has uncovered evidence that parts of a renowned Renaissance masterpiece may not have been painted by the artist Raphael, adding weight to historical debates about the artwork’s authenticity.

The research, conducted by scientists from the United Kingdom and United States, focused on the Madonna della Rosa painting, created between 1518 and 1520. Their AI-powered investigation revealed that while most of the painting shows Raphael’s distinctive style, the face of St Joseph in the top left corner displays markedly different characteristics.

AI in Art Authentication

The researchers developed a specialized AI system based on a modified version of Microsoft’s ResNet50 architecture combined with a Support Vector Machine, a traditional machine learning method. The system was trained to recognize Raphael’s unique artistic style by analyzing confirmed authentic works by the Italian master.

“Using deep feature analysis, we used pictures of authenticated Raphael paintings to train the computer to recognize his style to a very detailed degree, from the brushstrokes, the color palette, the shading and every aspect of the work,” explained Dr. Hassan Ugail, a mathematician and computer scientist from the University of Bradford.

The AI system demonstrated a remarkable 98 percent accuracy rate in identifying genuine Raphael paintings during validation testing.

Historical Suspicions Confirmed

The Madonna della Rosa has been a subject of scholarly debate since the mid-1800s, when art critics first raised questions about whether Raphael had painted the entire work. The new AI analysis provides technical support for these historical doubts.

When researchers examined individual elements of the painting, they found that while the Madonna, the Child, and St John were consistent with Raphael’s style, St Joseph’s face showed significant differences.

“When we tested the della Rosa as a whole, the results were not conclusive,” said Ugail. “So, then we tested the individual parts and while the rest of the picture was confirmed as Raphael, Joseph’s face came up as most likely not Raphael.”

Some art historians have suggested that Giulio Romano, one of Raphael’s pupils, might have painted this portion of the work, though this remains unconfirmed.

Dr. Ugail said that the AI technology is intended to complement rather than replace traditional art authentication methods. “This is not a case of AI taking people’s jobs,” he said. “The process of authenticating a work of art involves looking at many aspects, from its provenance, pigments, condition of the work and so on. However, this sort of software can be used as one tool to assist in the process.”

The research team’s methodology could potentially be adapted for analyzing works by other artists, provided there are enough verified examples available for training the AI system. This study is a promising start for the use of AI technology in art authentication, showing how technology can work alongside traditional expertise to uncover hidden details about historical artworks.

(Image by Museo del Prado – fragment)

Category: AI
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Dimitar is a freelance sci-tech journalist who has been interested in reading about the latest breakthroughs and tech developments as far as he can remember. After graduating from NBU, he briefly tried his hands in software development but then moved on to his true calling - writing for science and technology. When AI surged into the mainstream with the rise of ChatGPT, Dimitar found himself eagerly diving into the topic and its transformative impact. Beyond the screen, he’s a hands-on tech enthusiast and loves making weird Raspberry Pi gadgets. When he's not writing or tinkering with his little robots, you'll find him out in nature, biking through scenic trails, where he recharges and finds fresh inspiration.

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